Extendable sighting device

ABSTRACT

A sighting device is disclosed for use on an archer&#39;&#39;s bow in which a sight member is carried by a range member and the range member is supported in spaced relationship from the bow. A range member support device is adjustable in length so that the sight member may be supported at any desired position in spaced relationship relative to the bow.

United States Patent lnventor David William Reynolds Dayton, Ohio Appl. No. 758,785 Filed Sept. 10, 1968 Patented Apr. 13, 1971 Assignee Reynolds Precision Products Company, lnc.

West Carrollton, Ohio EXTENDABLE SIGHTING DEVICE 2 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 33/46 Int. Cl F4lg1/00, F4lb 5/00 Field of Search 33/46.4;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,163,938 1/1965 Reynolds 33/64.4 2,909,167 10/1959 Fredrickson 33/64.4 3,488,853 l/l970 Altier 33/46.4

Primary ExaminerLeonard Forman Assistant Examiner-Steven L. Stephan Att0rney-William R. .lacox Patented Apr-1113,1971 3,514,944

iggi'g'm mum INVEWTOR .DAVID WILLIAM REYNOLDS A TTORNE Y EXTENDABLE SIGHTING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a sighting device and more particularly to a sighting device which is adjustably supported in spaced relationship from an archers bow.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART The use of a sighting device on an archers bow is shown in US. Pat. Nos. 3,l63,937 and 3,163,938. When the device of each of these patents is attached to a bow, the sighting element thereof is positioned in close proximity to the bow. It has been found, however, that increased archery accuracy may be obtained when the sighting element is supported or maintained in spaced relationship from the bow.

Past attempts to support the sighting element away from the bow have been unsatisfactory. Bow sight support members have been of fixed length, which is objectionable since the optimum extension may vary from person to person. Known extension members have also been improperly constructed and not well adapted for use with a bow which momentarily experiences a high amplitude of vibrational forces immediately following shooting of an arrow thereby.

This invention provides an archers bow sight device which is light in weight and which permits the archer to adjust the sighting element at any desired position with respect to the bow so that maximum accuracy may be obtained.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sighting device which can be easily and readily attached to and removed from an archery bow.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a sighting device which may be easily and readily adjusted to compensate for variable factors.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a sighting device in which the sighting element may be adjusted away from the bow so that an archer may obtain maximum accuracy.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of the type described, which is light in weight, simple in construction, durable in use, and readily manufacturable on a production basis.

Other objects and advantages reside in the construction of parts, the combination thereof, the method of manufacture, and the mode of operation as will become more apparent from the description of the illustrative embodiment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A sighting device is shown in which a base member is adapted for attachment to a bow. An adjustable support member supports a range member having a sighting element and an indicator thereon in spaced relationship from the bow. Compensation indicia is used between relatively movable members for facilitating proper adjustment and readjustment of the sighting device. 7

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an archery bow with a sighting device of this invention attached thereto.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective exploded view showing a sighting device of this invention.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view, drawn on substantially the same scale as FIG. 2, showing a sighting device of this invention in a partially extended position.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 5--5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 6-6 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view, somewhat similar to FIG. 3, showing a sighting device of this invention in a fully extended position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the illustrative embodiment of this invention, FIG. 1 shows generally a bow sight device 10 attached to a bow 12 having a bow string 14.

The bow sight device 10 is seen in an exploded view in FIG. 2 and comprises a bracket or base member 16, a bar or range member 18, an indicator or cursor member 20 carried by the range member 18, a sighting element or member 22, carried by the cursor member 20, and a support member 24 for joining the range member 18 to the base member 16 and for supporting the range member or bar 18 in spaced relationship from the bow l2 and the base member 16.

The support member 24 includes a plurality of telescopically interconnected elements and is attachable to the base member 16 and to the range member 18 in a manner explained herebelow. In the embodiment shown, elongate elements 26 and 28 comprise the support member 24. The elongate element 26 is provided with a channel 30 which extends the length thereof and which has side portions 32. The channel 30 of the elongate element 26 is adapted to slidably receive a flange 34 of the elongate element 28. Thus, the elongate element 28 is slidably axially movable with respect to the elongate element 26. Although in this illustrative embodiment, the channel 30 and flange 34 are shown to be of dovetail shape, it is apparent that channels and cooperating parts of other shapes may be used. v

The elongate element 26 has a slot 36 which communicates with the channel 30 and which splits the element 26 at one end thereof. A screw 38 is threadedly disposed within the elongate element 26 and extends through the slot 36. Thus, tightening of the screw 38 causes the side portions 32 of the elongate element 26 to be drawn together to clamp or lock the flange 34 of the elongate element 28 in its adjusted position within the channel 30.

A plurality of adjustment indicia or lines 40 are provided along one of the side portions 32 of the elongate element 26 for alignment with an end surface 42 of the elongate element 28 for noting adjusted position of the elongate element 28 with respect to the elongate element 26, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7. Thus, if later adjustment occurs, desired readjustment may be obtained. Although this illustrative embodiment shows adjustment lines 40 on the upper side portion 32 of the element 26, the adjustment lines 40 could just as well be placed on the lower side portion 32 or within the channel 30. It is also apparent that the adjustment indicia 40 could be placed along the top surfaces of the element 26 and 28.

The base member 16 is secured to he bow 12 by any conventional means, such as by screws 4 4, as shown in FIG. 3. Although the base member 16 is shown as a unitary member, it may, if desired, be constructed in two or more pieces. The base member 16 is provided with an elongate channel 46, shown in FIG. 2, and having side portions 48, shown in FIGS. 2 and 6.

The base member 16 is adapted to receive one end of the support member 24 and more specifically, one end of the elongate element 26. The elongate element 26 has a bracket portion 49 which is provided with a flange 50. The flange 50 slidably fits into the channel 46 of the base member 16. A locking screw 52 is threadedly carried by the base 16 and extends into the channel 46 for engaging the flange 50 to lock the bracket 49 in adjusted position with respect to the base 16.

One end of the elongate element 28 is adapted to receive the range member 18 and is provided with an elongate channel 54, shown in FIG. 2, having side portions 56 shown in FIG. 5. The range member I8 has a flange 58 which slidably fits into the channel 54 of the elongate member 28. Thus, the range member 18 is axially movable with respect to the elongate element 28 as the range member 18 moves transversely with respect to the elongate element 28. The range member 18 is thus also relatively movable with respect to the base member 16 which supports the support member 24 at the end thereof opposite the range member 18.

The end of the elongate element 28 adjacent the channel 54 has a slot 60 through which a screw 62 is threadedly inserted. The slot 60 is in communication with the channel 54. Thus, tightening of the screw 62 causes the sides of the channel 54 to be drawn together to clamp or lock the range member 18 in its adjusted position within the channel 54.

The range member or bar 18 has tapered side edges 64 which slidably retain inwardly extending side projections 66 of the indicator or cursor member 20. The indicator or cursor member 20 is provided with a window 68 which is adapted to be aligned with any one of a plurality of range indicator marks 70. The range indicator marks 70 are shown as being applied to a strip 72 which is recessed within the bar or range member 18 or which are applied to the bar 18 in any other suitable manner, The side projections 66 of the cursor 20 are slightly resilient in order to provide a slidable clamping effect of the cursor member 20 on the range member or bar 18. The cursor member 20 thus remains in any adjusted position upon the range member 18.

The indicator or cursor member 20 is provided with a block 74 which carries the sighting element 22 which is threadedly attached thereto. The sighting element 22 is provided with a head 76. The head 76 may be rotated to adjust the sighting member 22 with respect to the block 74. The sighting member 22 has a sight or pointer 78 at the end thereof which is moved toward or away from the block 74 with threaded adjustment of the sighting element 22. The position of the sighting element 22 is secured by a lock nut 80 carried by the sighting element 22 which is adapted to engage the block 74.

The range indicator marks 70 are applied to the range member 18 in accordance with the action of the how 12. The action or shooting ability of the bow 12 is found by experiment. The indicator marks 70 are then applied to the range member 18. As seen in FIG. 2, the range indicator marks 70 indicate distances for shooting arrows with the bow 12 When, for example, it is desired to shoot an arrow a distance of 30 units, the indicator 20 is moved so that the window 68 is in alignment with the desired indicator mark 70, as shown in FIG. 2. The sighting element 22 is adjusted so that the lateral position of the sight or pointer 78 is at a desired position to compensate for any breeze or wind which may exist. Thus, in sighting the bow 12, the bow 12 is held at the proper angular positions.

Frequently, it is necessary to attach a new string 14 to the bow 12 to which the bow sight device is attached. A new string 14 may change the distance that an arrow may travel when the bow 12 is held in a given angular position. Therefore, after a new string 14 is attached to the bow 12, the bow 12 is tested and the range member or bar 18 is axially adjusted with respect to the element 28 and the base 16 to compensate for changes in range resulting from the change resulting from attachment of the new string 14 to the bow 12. All that is necessary to compensate for the change in action in the string 14 is to move the bar or range member 18 upwardly or downwardly to its newly desired position upon the elongate element 28. For such adjustment, the range member 18 is loosened with respect to the elongate element 28 by loosening .of the screw 62. When the newly adjusted position for the range member 18 is found, the range member 18 is firmly clamped with respect to the elongate element 28 by the tightening of the screw 62.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 7, a plurality of adjustment lines 82 are provided in the side surface of the base 16 for alignment thereof with a suitable mark or marks 84 on the side surface of the bracket 49 of the elongate element 26. Thus, if it is necessary to remove the support member 24 from the base 16 at any time, the support member 24 may be readjusted to the desired position with respect to the base 16 as shown by the lines or marks 82 and 84.

Adjustment marks or lines 86 and 88 are provided respectively on the cooperating side surfaces of the elongate element 28 and the range member 18. Thus, for example, the range member 18 may be removed from the support member 24 and may be readjusted to the desired position when reassembled.

FIG. 3 shows the set of adjustment lines or marks 82 and 84 and the set of adjustment lines or marks 86 and 88 at a given position. The adjustment lines or marks 86 and 88 shown in FIG. 7 indicate that the range member 18 has been adjusted upwardly from that of FIG. 3 for compensation, such as compensation for a change in the bow string 14.

FIG. 3 shows a given extended position of the support member 24. FIG. 7 shows a greater extended position of the support member 24. One archer may desire a given extended position of the support member 24 and another archer may desire a greater or lesser extended position of the support member 24.

It should be noted that in this embodiment, the construction and dimensions of the channels 46 and 54 are the same and the cooperating flanges 50 and 58, respectively, therein are the same. Hence, it is possible to eliminate use of the support member 24, if maximum accuracy is not desired. The range member 18 is then inserted into the channel 46 of the base member 16 for slidable movement relative thereto.

A range member of the bow sight device is adjustable for accommodating changes in conditions of the bow and string thereof. The range member may be extended in a spaced relationship from the bow to improve the accuracy of the bow.

Thus, it is understood that the bow sight device of this invention provides means by which the desired angular position of a bow can be readily and accurately obtained and maintained for shooting an arrow any distance of which the bow and the archer are capable.

A bow sight device of this invention is easily and readily attachable to a bow for the use thereof. A bow sight device of this invention may be easily and readily removed for carrying of the bow when desired, It is thus seen that the objects of this invention as previously set forth have been accomplished.

I claim:

1. In a sighting device for attachment to a bow, the sighting device being of the type having a base member, the base member being attachable to a bow, an elongate range member, an indicator mounted on the elongate range member for relative movement with respect thereto;

the improvement comprising:

an adjustable support member connected to the base member and to the range member for supporting the range member in adjustable spaced relationship from said base member, said adjustable support member including: a plurality of elongate elements telescopically interconnected for telescopic operation, wherein the range member is supported in spaced relationship from the base member at any desired position within the span of relative telescopic movement of the elongate elements; the support member having an end connected to the base member and an opposite end connected to the range member, and locking means carried by at least one of the elongate elements for locking the elongate elements in any relative position, one with respect to the other, wherein said range member is secured in any desire adjusted position with respect to the base member;

said one end of the support member having a complementary portion slidably movable within the channel of the base member wherein the support member is adjustably slidably movable within the channel of the base member;

first clamping means for securing said one end of the support member relative to the base member;

the opposite end of said support member having a channel therein,

the range member having a complementary portion within the channel of the support member whereby the range member is adjustably slidably movable within the channel of the support member; and

second clamping means for securing the range member relative to the support member.

to the support member; the respective channels in the base member and the support member being parallel so that the two sets of complementary compensation indicia indicate the transverse position of the range member relative to the base member.

@3 3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,574,944 Dated April 13, 1971 Inventor(s) It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 4, line 57, change "desire" to ---desired---;

after line 58 and before line 59, insert the following:

--the base member having a channel therein,-. Thus lines 57 60 read as follows:

"wherein said range member is secured in any desired adjusted position with respect to the base member;

the base member having a channel therein,

said one end of the support member having a" Signed and sealed this 10th day of August 1971.

(SEAL) Attestt EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR. Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. In a sighting device for attachment to a bow, the sighting device being of the type having a base member, the base member being attachable to a bow, an elongate range member, an indicator mounted on the elongate range member for relative movement with respect thereto; the improvement comprising: an adjustable support member connected to the base member and to the range member for supporting the range member in adjustable spaced relationship from said base member, said adjustable support member including: a plurality of elongate elements telescopically interconnected for telescopic operation, wherein the range member is supported in spaced relationship from the base member at any desired position within the span of relative telescopic movement of the elongate elements; the support member having an end connected to the base member and an opposite end connected to the range member, and locking means carried by at least one of the elongate elements for locking the elongate elements in any relative position, one with respect to the other, wherein said range member is secured in any desire adjusted position with respect to the base member; said one end of the support member having a complementary portion slidably movable within the channel of the base member wherein the support member is adjustably slidably movable within the channel of thE base member; first clamping means for securing said one end of the support member relative to the base member; the opposite end of said support member having a channel therein; the range member having a complementary portion within the channel of the support member whereby the range member is adjustably slidably movable within the channel of the support member; and second clamping means for securing the range member relative to the support member.
 2. A sighting device as set forth in claim 1 in which the base member and said one end of the support member have complementary compensation indicia thereon for indicating the position of the support member with respect to the base member: the other end of the support member and the range member having complementary compensation indicia thereon for indicating the position of the range member with respect to the support member; the respective channels in the base member and the support member being parallel so that the two sets of complementary compensation indicia indicate the transverse position of the range member relative to the base member. 